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Military

The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.

The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.

This cloak was made from captured Confederate Army gray cloth and was worn by a woman. The donor indicates that this cloak was made at the first Freedmen's School in Richmond, Virginia. After the Civil War, the Freedmen's Bureau aided the establishment of schools to educate emancipated African-Americans.

The cloak is gray wool with three large brass eagle buttons and a 15" long hood. The circumference of the bottom edge of the cloak measures 184 inches. The inside of the cloak is fully lined with red wool.

The Model 1851 Navy was Colt’s most popular percussion revolver. Nearly a quarter million of the iconic .36 caliber six-shot model were produced between 1850 and 1873. The term "Navy" refers to the caliber of the revolver, not necessarily the branch of service. The .44 caliber revolvers are called "Army" and .36 caliber revolvers are called "Navy." The 1851 Navy was used by a number of famous soldiers and lawmen as well as infamous outlaws in American history.

Model 1863 Springfield Rifle Musket used by Private Elisha Stockwell, Jr. during the Civil War

Description

On Feb. 25, 1862 at the age of 15, Elisha Stockwell, Jr. enlisted in Company 'I' of the 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Stockwell was issued a .69-caliber Belgian rifle musket when he joined. He was wounded twice at the Battle of Shiloh, and he fought at Corinth. By the time he fought at Vicksburg, Stockwell was issued a .577-caliber Enfield rifle.

In early 1864 Stockwell was issued this .58-caliber Model 1863 Springfield rifle musket. Stockwell used this rifle at the battles of Kennesaw Mountain, and Mobile, but not at the Battle of Atlanta. Just before the Battle of Atlanta, a lieutenant sent Stockwell to find the cooks who were late with Company I’s coffee. Stockwell left his rifle and belts beside a tree and before he could find the cooks, the battle started. After the battle he returned to find his rifle and belts just where he left them.

Stockwell was promoted to Corporal in March, 1865 and mustered out of the Army in Oct., 1865. He purchased this rifle and the rest of his kit for six dollars and the rifle was passed down through his family. It was donated to the Smithsonian by his great-grandson Gordon S. Stockwell in 2012.

Rectangular wool bunting flag. White field with pigment painted design in center of flag. The design is a red shield with a white anchor that is crossed with a blue cannon (the cannon surmounts the anchor). Both the cannon and the anchor have black paint detailing on them. Two small reinforcement squares at the upper and lower hoist corners. Machine-stitched flat-felled panel seams. Machine and hand-stitched unbleached cotton pole sleeve with a grommet at each end. An inscription on the pole sleeve reads "9TH ARMY/CORPS 1ST DIVISION."

Framed part of envelope addressed to General William Tecumseh Sherman in French. Written in ink on the paper envelope is " A Monsieur Le General Sherman Commandant en Chef, des armees de l'Ohio, du Tennessee, et de l'Arkansas, a la Nouvelle Orleans par New-York (affaires de tanulle)". The envelope bears a postmark from Paris, April 8, 1864. The envelope was collected as a historical relic by its donor, E. A. Steiner.

Frank E. Brownell donated this .44-caliber Colt 1860 Army revolver, Serial No. 1987, to the Smithsonian. It has a fluted cylinder and "ELLSWORTH" engraved on the backstrap. Colt factory records indicate it was delivered to Governor William Dennsion of Ohio. Brownell became something of a celebrity as the avenger of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, who was killed at the Marshall House hotel in Alexandria, VA, on May 24, 1861. It is likely that Governor Dennison presented the revolver to Frank Brownell.

Civil War drummer Jacob Booz (1840–1909) was presented this drum in 1863 by officers of his regiment, Company C, 1st New Jersey Volunteers, for recognition of service. The drum is inscribed with 14 of the engagements that Booz participated in. He enlisted in the Civil War on March 22, 1861 and served until he was honorably discharged on June 23, 1864. Jacob Booz re-enlisted on September 2, 1864, and participated in three more engagements. He was honorably discharged on June 30, 1865.

After Jacob Booz's death, his family presented the drum to the State of New Jersey Museum. Woodrow Wilson was governor at that time, and when he became president, the drum was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1917. The drum was originally intended for presentation only, but a vent hole (in the center of the inscription) was added later by Booz, enabling him to actually play the drum, which he used until his death in 1909.